That’s where Mowbray deserves credit. During his time at Boro, he was tasked with clearing the decks and shipping out Gordon Strachan’s high-earners, while at the same time keeping the club on a forward trajectory.

Stephen McManus, Nicky Bailey, Kevin Thomson and Scott McDonald were all sent packing. A revolution was happening behind closed doors at the Riverside.

“For the first two years at Boro I felt we were punching above our weight,” said Mark Proctor, Boro’s first-team coach under Mowbray.

“We were cutting the wage bill and getting rid of some of the high-earners, but were predominantly in the top six of the division.

“Tony took over from Gordon Strachan when the team was struggling at the bottom, but we finished 12th in the table.

“Then we spent much of the next season in the top six, and the first half of the 2012/13 campaign too.

“We didn’t quite hit the heights that either of us wanted in terms of finishing in the play-off places, but overall it was a great few years at Boro.”

“I don’t think many coaches get the time to get their own team out there,” said Freedman, who was sacked as Bolton boss before taking charge at The City Ground.

“In 18 months you have to show some sort of progression but he (Karanka) has done that.

“He works from a very good structure at that club. He is a very good coach but there has been a good structure in place there for a long time.

“They are big spenders and I would also point out that Tony Mowbray spent two years clearing the decks out there to allow Aitor Karanka to walk in with a platform to recruit very, very good young players.

“It has paid off for them, but it has been a process that has been ongoing for four or five years, which is now coming together.”